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Which week would be perfect for sowing tomato seed for outside plants?

FireFire Posts: 19,096
edited March 2021 in Fruit & veg
I'm wondering which would be the ideal week to choose for sowing tom seed. The plants will be outside (no greenhouse). London. Choosing timing so that the seedlings don't get leggy and can go outside when night temps are warm enough. People will have no special kit like lights, conservatories etc.

Thanks
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Last week I hope😊
    One has sprouted already. I have them in the porch. It was pretty cold in there last week.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    Here (near Cambridge) I evidently went for 19th March 2019, and 28th March 2020. So about now by my reckoning (not done this year's yet). This is starting sown singly in 2-inch pots in a kitchen-window propagator, repotting into 3.5 inch pots when needed - there's then usually a period when I move them into the greenhouse (heated, min. 5C) during the day (lots of light and warm when the sun's shining), or give them days outside if weather nice, coming back into the house at night. They get planted outside in grow-bags from about mid-May (and last year, first ripe fruit on a cherry-type was mid-July).
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I was thinking first week of April.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I sow mine January normally,it was Feb this year, North facing kitchen window
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Sowing inside for outside growing  start of April, especially where you are @Fire , then they can go outside permanently mid May.  How much in/ out hardening off you do depends on the weather.😄
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I'm wanting to advise local newbie tom growers locally who have never done it before, so trying to make it as super easy / guarenteed as possible. Growing Gardeners' Delight cherries.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    But gardeners delight aren't cherry toms🤔
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Hi Fire
    sowing time is around 22nd of February and latest 5th of March. I sow my one around 22 of February. I have them now in the greenhouse since last weekend. They will remain in the greenhouse until the beginning of May. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Far too cold in my greenhouse yet @Simone_in_Wiltshire it's still getting down to single figures at night in there. Even April when mine go out will be a trial for them, as the cold will just halt them for a while before they resume growth, but it does mean I get an earlier start to picking than outside.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    As mentioned, our peeps have no greenhouses, no heated propogators etc. They would need to start growing inside and then go out when night tems have toped 12oC or so.
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